Tiny Ocala horse wins big awards

Magic poses with Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses Executive Director Jorge Garcia-Bengochea and a member of the New York Police Department’s Mounted Unit during her visit to the Big Apple to receive the Film Heals Award at the Manhattan Film Festival. [Photo courtesy of Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses]

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Posted June 26, 2023 | By Susan Smiley-Height

The story of a tiny equine with a big heart has captured the attention of two heavy hitters in the worlds of film and law.

The documentary “Hero Horse: A Magical True Story,” about Magic, the charismatic ambassador of the Ocala-based Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses, last week won the Film Heals Award at the Manhattan Film Festival in New York City. Just hours later, the diminutive equine was the first horse ever to be allowed inside the ultra-chic and award-winning The Boca Raton hotel and resort to receive the Florida Bar Association’s Rikki Mitchell Memorial Animal Achievement Award.

Magic’s documentary film was an official selection at the Manhattan Film Festival, which ran from June 15-25. She was there to walk the red carpet in her tuxedo, with support from the New York Police Department’s (NYPD) Mounted Unit.

“The NYPD Mounted Unit stopped busy traffic so Magic could safely get on and off her van, escorted her back and forth from the theatre, helped with crowds and even walked her up the van ramp when it was over. They were amazing and we could not have done it without them,” said Debbie Garcia-Bengochea, Gentle Carousel’s education director.

“Mayor Kent Guinn of Ocala donated Magic’s travel expenses so she could walk the red carpet. He also helped set everything up for the Ocala Police Department’s ‘Officer Magic’ and the NYPD Mounted Unit to be together for this event,” Garcia-Bengochea added.

After learning the documentary had earned the award, Garcia-Benochea said via email, “We are thrilled!”

On Monday, June 26, she wrote, “We just returned from Palm Beach. Magic was honored with the Rikki Mitchell Memorial Animal Achievement Award at the annual Florida Bar Convention in Boca Raton. Every year the Animal Law Section (ALS) presents the award to an animal that provides exemplary service to the people of Florida. Rikki Mitchell was the first courthouse therapy dog and would accompany victims of assault into court.”

She said Magic is the first equine to receive the award and described their part of the convention, which was held June 21-24, as, “Just 2,000 lawyers and a little horse.”

As for the significance of the film and Florida Bar awards, Garcia-Benochea, said, “It was an honor for Magic’s work to be highlighted by the Animal Law Section of The Florida Bar. She represents the work of all of the Gentle Carousel therapy horses. They each have their own special stories and many years of service to the local community and across the country inside hospitals, hospice programs and assisted living programs. Becoming a 2023 Manhattan Film Festival Award Winner was a big surprise. Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses was the first official 501(c)(3) nonprofit miniature horse therapy program in the world. We have spent over a quarter of a century breaking glass ceilings inside hospitals and other locations. In some ways, the film was a recognition of that work.”

Garcia-Bengochea went on to explain that Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses have been providing reading programs inside schools, libraries and education resource centers for at-risk readers for more than 25 years.

“The Marion County School Board has unanimously approved equine education programs for all schools in the county for all ages. Our charity has been asked to officially bring Gentle Carousel’s Reading with Horses literacy programs into every elementary school in Marion County with a focus on Pre-K through 3rd grade. Individual Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses have been featured in many books by different authors and publishers. When students complete a book, the character from the story visits the classroom to ‘bring the book to life.’ It is a one-of-a-kind program and seems perfect for the Horse Capital of the World,” she noted.

One of the nonprofit’s outreaches is a weekly reading program at the Ocala Downtown Market, which recently wrapped up for the summer. In July, some of the agency’s 20 horses will work inside a dozen libraries.

“Magic will be on vacation for the month of July except for two programs as ‘Officer Magic’ with the Ocala Police Department. The other therapy horses will be busy in July taking turns with Gentle Carousel’s Reading with Horses. Our individual therapy horses usually work no more than two days a week so they can spend time running and playing with their lifelong herd. They deserve a wonderful life,” Garcia-Bengochea said.

“In August, when the schools begin again, Reading with Horses will be back inside public and private schools,” she added. “We are excited about the upcoming school year, but Gentle Carousel’s Reading with Horses really needs sponsors. The Marion County School Board is not financially supporting our reading programs. Our charity is financially responsible to make it happen. Highlighting Magic’s work may bring a focus on the much-needed help the charity needs to provide horses and reading at local schools for the 2023-2024 school year.”

To learn more, go to gentlecarouseltherapyhorses.com.